Part 5
It was dark as the two heroes entered the compound, bypassing the security measure's that had been put in place until they made their way onto the roof of one of the four large buildings that where situated in the centre.
"Which one do you think we should hit first?..If I were a gambling man..which I am occasionally..I'd say that one." Green Arrow said, pointing to the one building that looked like a double story house...the other buildings looked more like large dormitories designed to accommodate dozens of people.
"Then you would be guessing right." Batman replied, not bothering to comment on the obviousness of such a guess, as he edged his way along the rooftop they were on towards the other building, and prepared to climb over the side..
"Figure's the 'supreme leader' or whatever this freak calls himself wouldn't want to bunk with his dedicated parishioners." Green Arrow said as he followed the other hero. "Any idea which building they'd have Roy in?"
Batman disappeared over the side and out of sight.
"I guess that's a no then." Green Arrow muttered as he hurried to catch up.
The two hero's made their way silently across the yard, past the guards in front of the house, then up the side of the building, before carefully entering the house. Silently they moved from room to room, be carefull not to wake the other occupants of the house, until they found what the were looking for.
Austin Dixon stirred in his sleep, oblivious to the two unwelcome visitors that now stood over his bed. Oblivious that was until a hand was slapped over his mouth to silence him and a heavy weight held him down..He opened his eye's wide in shock, and began blinking rapidly attempting to clear his vision.. He could barely make out the dark clad figure that leaned over him in the darkness.
"If you yell or make the slightest loud noise I'm gonna skewer you." Green Arrow said, moving beside Batman and aiming a nocked arrow at the man.
Dixon nodded rapidly.
"Atta boy." Green Arrow said, as he watched Batman remove his gloved hand from over the man's mouth.
"What do you want?" Dixon asked, his voice showing only mild alarm.
"Harper." Batman replied.
Dixon remained silent for a moment. "I don't know what you mean." he finally said.
"Don't push me..I ain't in the mood to play games..Where is he?" Green Arrow asked, taking a threatening step forward.
"I do not fear you..I am in the protection of one who is greater than any on this earth." Dixon replied smugly.
"Why you arrogant..." Green Arrows voice faded away as Batman placed a hand on his chest to stop him moving closer to the man.
"Where is Harper..we know you have him?" the Dark Night asked.
Dixon smiled, he wasn't afraid of these men, there was nothing they could do to him that would cause him concern. "You will never elicit such information from me." he said calmly.
"You think not do ya asshole?..Maybe I can change..."
"Arrow!"
Batman's voice was dark and authoritative and the Archer fell silent..he had worked with the other hero enough to know that Batman had a plan..as much as he wanted to jump on Dixon and beat the answers he wanted out of the man, he respected Batman enough to take a step back.
Batman leaned over Dixon.."We will find him..We won't stop until we do, remember that..It's only a matter of time until we track him down, and you will pay severely if he has been harmed. " he said threateningly.
Green Arrow watched as Batman pulled a length of rope out of god knows where and tied Dixon up, before pulling out a strip of cloth that he used to gag the man...it never ceased to amaze the Archer how much stuff Batman carried with him.
"Lets go" Batman said as he headed towards the door.
"But we haven't..."
"Now Arrow."
The Archer said no more..his mind ticking over the possible senarios for the plans the other hero may have formed. He silently followed Batman to the widow through which the other hero had disappeared and followed him into the night.
Five minutes later the two heros disappeared out of the compound and headed away into the darkness.
"We aren't just going to leave? We haven't..."
"Oracle..I want you to trace any calls that come from the location I'm at..you have the coordinates." Batman said, speaking into a communicator.
"Ohh...I get it..Roy's not there is he?..That's why you tied Dixon up instead of cuffing him, so he can work his way lose and warn whoever's got my boy that we're on their trail...bet you tied him up losely..didn't ya?..I like the way you think." Green Arrow said..pleased that he had been able to deduct that little bit of information.
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"You can stop this..You know you can, just tell us what we want to here and I'll give you what you need."
Roy shivered violently and groaned again as he clutched his stomach..he knew what they were doing..and he was tempted, so tempted to give in. Another wave of nausea hit him, he gagged, and ran to the dirty sink in his cell, reaching violently over an over until the wave passed, his stomach and throat burned viscously and his limbs felt like jelly..He turned on the tap and splashed water over his face, before sinking to the ground on his knees, leaving the tap running
The man who stood near his bunk stomped past him and turned off the running water, grabbing him by the hair and forcing Roy to look at him. "Stop pissing me off..Tell me what I need to know, I'm getting paid to do a job here and you ain't making it easy on either of us..Where is Migliorini?" he asked again.
"I don't know." Roy whispered, wincing as he waited for the slap that would follow..It came, hard and fast, knocking him onto his side on the floor..and was swiftly followed by a bone cracking kick to the ribs. Roy gasped, and gripped his side..as another kick connected with the side of his face.
"That's enough!"
"He's pissing me off David..He frigin knows what I want to hear..and he fucken well knows that I know he knows, but he won't give it up."
The man who was named David moved to kneel by Roys side, placing a hand on his head so he could move the Archers face to get a better look at the bloody gash the kick had left on his cheekbone. "This isn't the way to go..." he stood and faced the other man.."No food..and a night in the shed might weaken his resolve. Nothing like cold and hunger to make a man reconsider how determined he should be..that combined with what he's craving for right now might loosen his tongue." he said.
The other man moved quickly to grab the archer by the hair, hauling him to unsteady feet and pushing him towards the door.
Roy's body protested the sudden movement and he stumbled and fell, slamming his head into the brick wall as he did so and slipping into inky blackness that offered temporary respite from the distress his body was feeling.
end 5